The 2018 Porsche Panamera S E-hybrid is powered by its twin-turbo, 4.0-litre, 550-horsepower, V8 engine and a 136-horsepower electric motor, for a combined output of 680 horsepower and 626 lb.-ft. of torque. (PORSCHE)

COWICHAN, B.C. — The most powerful regular production Porsche is a hybrid.

The result is a whopping 680 horsepower and 626 lb.-ft. of torque starting at 1,700 rpm and the ability to move the 5,200-lb. car to 100 km/h from rest in 3.2 seconds, from 100 to 200 km/h in 8.3 seconds and to a top speed that exceeds 300 km/h.

I did not get to verify those latter numbers, but did my best to wring out this uber sedan on a racetrack and at a mostly-legal pace on public roads.

The bottom line is that this big Porsche behaves more like a high-end sports car than a luxurious four-door, four-seat sedan.

Porsche is using the Turbo S E-hybrid to showcase its hybrid technology in typical Porsche fashion — emphasizing performance instead of efficiency. That is not to say they neglected the efficiency aspect.

Porsche says the Panamera S E-hybrid is the fastest sedan on earth. Yet, this plug-in is capable of achievements lesser hybrids would be proud of. It can travel for up to 50 km/h at speeds of up to 140 km/h on electric power only.

Plug the on-board charger into a 110-volt outlet and the 14 kWh battery can be re-charged in six hours, less than half that from a 240-volt outlet.

If your commute is short enough and you can avoid the temptation of what else is available through the throttle pedal, you would never need to visit a gas station.

I was unable to resist the temptation.

The Porsche Panamera S E-hybrid behaves more like a high-end sports car than a luxurious, four-door, four-seat sedan. (PORSCHE)

My first exposure to the prowess of this big Porsche came at Vancouver Island Motorsport Park. This immaculately-groomed private complex, inland about halfway between Victoria and Nanaimo, was designed as a playground for “people of worth” and their toys.

Here, for initial fees of up to $200,000 and annual dues of $4,800, they can enjoy up to 20 track days a month, year-round.

The garages, eating, meeting and other facilities of this new track are first class. The track itself is 2.3 km in length with 19 turns. A tight and demanding circuit built into the side of a hill, it has lots of elevation changes including a gut-wrenching plunge over a blind corner into a sharp left requiring plenty of braking.

Speaking of guts, it took lots to introduce auto writers from dozens of countries and every continent to this big two-and-one-half ton luxury car on such tight confines.

But perhaps that was the point — to show the Panamera drives smaller than the shadow it casts.

Obviously, there is no shortage of power, with the blown V8 emitting a delicious bellow when pressed. The surprises were provided by the raft of standard electronic aids, that allow this big hybrid to seemingly ignore the laws of physics, and its size and weight.

The cabin exhibits all the luxury, comforts and conveniences expected from the Porsche brand. (PORSCHE)

As the flagship of the Panamera line when it arrives at your local Porsche store this fall, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid will set you back $209,800 ($221,700 for the long-wheelbase executive model) — before options.

Of course, it comes with a vast array of standard technical, performance and luxury features.

But its main claim to fame is that Porsche has done what it does best —use engineering to produce a high-performance vehicle that is as comfortable on the track as on the street, one with four-passenger capacity, impeccable credentials and renown reliability.

It is also assured of exceptional value should you desire to move up to the next best thing to come from this company.